Nissan Canada’s inaugural “Back in the Game” program finished on a high note with its two feature high school teams getting the experience of a lifetime at the country’s biggest football event – the 102nd Grey Cup in Vancouver.  Students from Hamilton’s Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School and Edmonton’s Eastglen High School flew to Vancouver for Grey Cup weekend on a CFL charter flight to meet CFL alumni and stars, take part in a skills clinic and behind-the-scenes tour at B.C. Place and, of course, watch the Calgary Stampeders win the Grey Cup.

“Because of this sponsorship, I have had countless dreams about myself playing on the Edmonton Eskimos, said Jaleel Dennie, Defensive Back for Edmonton’s Eastglen Blue Devils.” Now that I have experienced what it is like to play and work like a champion, I will definitely never stop until I have live my new dreams. Once again Nissan, thanks for me giving me the opportunity to play the greatest sport I have grown to love, football.”

Eastglen and Sir John A Macdonald were not the only high schools to benefit from the inaugural program though. Building on seven years of partnership with the CFL, the Nissan “Back in the Game” program identified and supported nearly 1,000 students at 21 high schools in 18 cities across the country. More than 55 Nissan dealerships and nine CFL teams participated with new uniforms, helmets, masks, shoulder pads, cleats, pants, game balls, five-man blocking sleds and CFL player appearances just a few things provided to the teams involved.

“It is so important for young people to be part of a team and feel that they belong,” said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada. “Nissan’s global culture is one of acceptance and diversity. We believe in teams working together to reach a common goal and we are driven to improve the communities we live and work in. This program is about giving young Canadians a chance to put on a uniform and work together – to be proud of each other – and it has been a real pleasure to help provide that for these students this year.”

For the teams in the program, winning on the scoreboard will always be the ultimate goal, but it is not how a successful season is defined. Teamwork, cooperation, hard work and friendship are just some of the benefits that coaches, staff and communities are seeing in these students.

“Nissan’s Back in the Game program has been an absolute life-changing experience for every player on our team as well everyone around them, myself included,” said Jeff Kott, coach, Sir John A. Macdonald. “The equipment, uniforms and the Grey Cup trip have all been incredible, but giving these kids the support and opportunity to work together and be proud of something has made incredible changes in every single one of them.”

To enable all Canadians to follow the journey, Sir John A Macdonald and Eastglen were selected to be featured in webisodes that tell the stories of their trials, tribulations and triumphs over the course of their 2014 football season. These webisodes can be viewed at BackInTheGame.ca, including the full 30-minute Nissan Back in the Game documentary that aired November 29 on TSN.

Throughout the season, the CFL and many of its teams also made significant contributions, including donations of training equipment and special player appearances to help train and motivate this next generation of Canadian football.

“The CFL is committed to helping grow the game of football in Canada and with the support of partners like Nissan and programs like Back in the Game, we can support more communities and get more kids working and playing as a team in a sport they love,” said Mark Cohon, Commissioner, Canadian Football League.